Outcomes of Vaginal Mesh Surgeries

Abstract

While the transvaginal placement of synthetic mesh has been used to treat pelvic floor disorders for over 20 years, this surgical technique is still a point of deliberation among experts in the field. Placing mesh through a vaginal incision for the treatment of stress incontinence is widely considered to be the standard procedure for surgical treatment of this condition. However, new techniques – such as single-incision slings – are still somewhat controversial. Vaginal mesh for prolapse is perhaps one of the most debated surgical techniques in gynecology since the turn of the millennium, with one of the common criticisms being that there is a paucity of quality outcome data associated with this technique. The goal of this chapter is to review and interpret these outcomes.